Control mechanism for the fluid pressure operating motor of pressing machines



Sept. M, 1951 E. N. NECKEL 2,557,444

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR THE FLUID PRESSURE OPERATING MOTOR OF PREssING MACHINES Filed oct. 16, 194s x SV 24 |g A! 2223 2| 2o L-I /l 4 43 42 A@ l J 40- B/ 41 INVENTOR EDMUND N. NECKEL TORNEYS Patented Sept. 11,1951

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to two-hand control mechanism for garment presses of single motor form.

One object of the invention is to provide improved safe control mechanism of special form so arranged that upon operation of the two man` uals, right and left` hand, a master valve lis ac-A tuated and the operating servomotor is thereby energized to safely close the press and permit the manuals to be released, whereupon the master valve is held or maintained in pressure position until purposely released by the operator to open the press.

Another object is to simplify the control mechanism by dispensing with valve devices and operators therefor heretofore regarded as essential, but' Without loss of sensitivity or inv any Way interfering with press roperation and control.v

Still another object is to provide improved valve vcontrol mechanism of the character and for the purposes stated in which the master valve serves as its own maintaining device, sub-4 ject to operator control for both closing and opening the press.

Another object is to provide an improved pressi control including valves and valve devices which are' extremely sensitive, responding to a light,I momentary touch for release purposes but re-Y quiring sustained effort of .both hands for the closing operation, for safety purposes.-

Further objects of the invention in part vare obvious and in part will appear more .detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 represents diagrams matically one arrangement of valve control ernbodying the invention, as applied to a press, two of the valve devices being shown in section lon the lines I-I, and 2-2, Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, partly broken away and in section, of the main or right-hand valve unit;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the valve actuating and maintaining parts, but showing them in maintaining position; andE Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 4-4, Fig. 1.

The garment press shown conventionally for purposes of illustration requires but brief Vdescription. It comprises a frame I supporting the stationary lower pressing member orbucl:A II and on which is pivoted a two armed lever I2 supporting the cooperating upper pressing member or head I3. The actuating motorv is a single acting.y fluid pressure servomotor I=4, thepiston I 5 and rod IG of which close and yopen toggle ih'en4 bers Il extending from lever I2 to the frame.- Tension springs I8 bias lthe press to open'posrftion.

The con-trollingvalve mechanism includes three valve devices,4 marked respectively A, E and C in Fig. l, two of which, v. and B, al'f' combined as a single unit shown in Fig. 2f;- Sec-` tion plane I'-I, Fig. 2, isthat of device A and section- 2-2 of device B.

In a general way thepre'sent control mechanism consists of a normally closed inletvalve' for the Voperatingv motor, a rnanually control-led servomoto'r for 'Opening tliaty valve; an exhaust valve for the motor which also serves to iiiai-n-- tain vthe pressure in the motor after i-tis safely closed, and operator controlled means `for open@ ing" the exhaust valve to 'release the motori Referring to` Fig.` 1, .fluid pressure" V(cornpres'sed air) fromv a suitable sour'ce` '(not shown) is con@ ducted by pipe I9- to' ai supply chamber 2l) and through filter' screen- 2| to a passage v22 two branches 23, 241. i

Branch 23 isccnnected by pipe 25 to the supplychamber for the combined inlet and exe haustva-lve 26, o'f valve device- A, having arr exi# haust port 21 and operatedby pivoted manual 28. Upon operation of' said valve',` pressure flows through pipe 23 to a similar valve, marked geni' erally C, having an operating' manual 28a, and then through pipe '30 to the chamber of a serv-' motor, shown as' including 'a piston 3l. This isslidably mounted upon the sten'i of a normally open exhaust valve 32 Working in chamber 333 and arranged when seated to close an annular exhaust channel 35 beneath fthe valve leading t'o an outlet 35 (Fig. 4) to atmosphere preferably packed with sound dea'deri-ing' or rnu-iilir'igY mate# rial 36.- Chamber 33, beneath the valve, `also communicates with a;y passageA 31, in whichi-slides a longitudinally grooved' rod 38, which at one' end abuts valve 32 and at its opposite end the normally closed `inlet valve 239,. biased to its seat by spring 40:.. Inlet valve 39 Worksin al chamberv III connected by passage 4-2 and` adjustable needle valve 43 to the' second branch 24 of pas-- sage `22.

Passage' 31., in which rod' 38y slides; communi; cates by way of pipe 44 with thev chamber Vof motor I4 on the pressure side of the piston' l5 thereof. Said chamber is provided with a side port or opening, uncovered when. the; piston passes it; at a point corresponding to safe closed position of 'the press.` This port communicates"Vv 6F by pipe-.45- with the supply vchamber l46 of anorhere described.

The operation is as follows:

Fig. 1 illustrates all parts of the press and control mechanism in idle position. In other words, the press is open, inlet valve l39 is closed, the manually controlled inlet valves are also closed,

and the operating motor I4 is open to exhaust.

Upon simultaneous depression of the twoY manuals 28, 28a of the valve devices A, C, pressure flows from the supply pipe I9 through valves A, C, to pipe 30 and thence to the chamber.

in which .piston 3I slides. Said piston moves over, to the left in Fig. 1, carrying with it the exhaust valve 32, rod 38 and the inlet valve 39, closing the exhaust valve and opening the inlet. So long as both manuals are held depressed, the pressure will continue to flow in the manner described, holding the inlet valve open and the exhaust valve closed. A

Opening of inlet valve 39 permits pressure to ow from passage 22 by way of its second branch 24 to chamber 4I, thence through the open inlet valve and by way of pipe 44 to the pressure side of the piston I5 in motor I4. The piston moves over, moving the head I3 downwardly toward pressure relation with the bed.

If either hand is removed from a manual before the press is safely closed, the valve parts return to their original positions, the motor is opened to exhaust by way of passage 34, and the press opens. However, if the manuals are held depressed until the piston I5 passes the port in the side ofthe cylinder, the pressure ows through pipe 45 to chamber 46 and by way of passage 5I to the chamber 33, on the pressure side of the outlet valve 32 therein. When this valve is seated, its effective area is that of the annular ring between its two sealing rings 32a, one on each side of the exhaust passage beneath it, and the pressure in chamber 33, on that area of the opposite f aceof the valve, is great enough to maintain the exhaust valve closed and the inlet valve open, against all opposing forces, including the uid pressure effects and the bias of spring 40.

Now, the operator can remove his hands from the manuals 28, 28a, and the press will remain closed, under full pressure, with the inlet valve '39 open and the exhaust valve held closed.

Of course, so long as the operator holds down the manuals 28, 28a, which supply pressure to the right-hand end of the chamber 33 in which the piston 3l travels, and after the piston I5 has passed the port in the side of its cylinder and pressure becomes effective on the other face of piston 3I, said piston remains in its advanced position, abutting the closed exhaust valve 32. But as soon as the manuals 28, 28a are released, the pressure in chamber 33 which advanced piston 3l is evacuated and the piston returns to its original position, shown in Fig. 3, leaving the exhaust valve 32 closed and maintained closed by the pressure now ahead of the piston.

When it is desired to open the press, the manual 48 is depressed, thus opening chamber 33 valve 41, pipe 50 and the exhaust outlet 35. Promptly, the balance of opposing forces effective upon valve 32 is disturbed and the two valves 32, 39 move to their original idle positions with the exhaust valve open and the inlet valve closed. The pressure within the chamber of motor I4 finds a, path to atmosphere both by way of pipe 45 and the open exhaust valve 41 to pipe 50, or to outlet passage 34, or lboth, and by way of pipe 44 to the chamber 31 and to outlet passage 34. As soon as the retracting piston I5 passes the port in the side of the cylinder, the pressure chamber of the motor completes its evacuation by way of pipe 44, but the chamber 33 remains open to exhaust, even though manual 49 is released, by way of pipe 45 and the atmospheric side of the piston I5 in cylinder I4 and its usual outlet to atmosphere.

If push button 48 is released before .piston I5 moves back past the cylinder port, reactuation of the valve mechanism is prevented by the nonpiston form of valve 32 in conjunction with the exhaust channel 34, now uncovered.

Thus, a momentary depression of manual 48 accomplishes the movement of exhaust valve 32 to open position and the closing of inlet valve 39, with no possibility of either valve returningto its on position, insuring opening movement of the press and without any possibility of a closing movement thereof after the release operation has been initiated.

In the arrangement described, the two valves 39 and 32 cooperate as inlet and exhaustvalves for the chamber of motor I4. However, valve 32 also is effective as an abutment to maintain itself closed and the inlet valve open, when they are actuated to those positions, by reason of the pressure applied to valve 32 in chamber 33. Thus,l the complete control mechanism in effect consists of three valves each of the combined inlet and exhaust variety, two of which, A and C. serve as controllers for the third, B, together with the single exhaust valve 41, operation of which accomplishes movement of the third to release position.

It should be noted that a denite relation preferably should exist between the cross-sectional areas of the entrance port M to chamber 46 and the outlet port N from the opposite end of said chamber to passage 49 and the outlet pipe 50. The entrance port M should be substantially smaller in area than the outlet port N, in order to insure instantaneous release of outlet valve 32. Preferably, the area of port N should be about four times that of the port M. Otherwise, the release of the maintaining air pressure from chamber 33 is oiset by the incoming air rushing through portl M, resulting either in a delayed opening of valve 32 or its failure to open at all.

Ordinarily, the size of port N is limited by somef consideration of the operating force requiredto actuate push button 48, so that in practice a rather small port M is used. In any event, with the proper proportion between the areas of the two ports instantaneous release between valves' 32 is eifected upon actuation of 'button 48.

The mechanism as a whole is extremely simple,

is delicate in operation and is certain in its results, avoiding any possible injury to the operator' as a result of unintentional pressure closure after press release operation is initiated. Other advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. f

f What I claim is:

t0 exhaust by Way 0f. the 110W open exhaust 7l f 1. Control mechanisnriv for-the fluid pressure loperating :motor ofla' mressingwmachine, acom- ,fprising einlet zand exhaust valves haying unison movement, 'means ibiasing said inlet valve :to closed position andsaid exhaust valve to open position, :means provid-ing a chamber `having an s,exhaust port, .said .exhaust valve rbeing movably mounted rin said chamber and 4closing :said exhaust' port when in ,closed position, ,an a'butment in saidchamber :movable therein toward and from .said exhaust valve, nperatornperated means for 'supplying i'luid pressure 'to ione face inf said movable :abutment to cause said .abutment to `move .towardsaid exhaust valve .and to ,there- 'by '.eiect 'the closing pf thev exhaust valve -and the opening ofthe inlet valvameans lforfisupplying iiuid pressure .to the operating =motor when `said inlet valve is ,open-and .said .exhaust Vvalve is closed, a conduit controlled :by .actuation tof Said voperating motor @for supplying iiuid pressure to the other face of said movable abutment, with consequent-movement of the `labutment in a direction from vsaid exhaust valve, lland for simultaneously supplying iiuid pressure -to said exhaust valve for the maintenance of `said exhaust valve in closed position andthe inlet Valve in open position, and operator operated means 'for electing -the movement of the exhaust \valve fto open position and the inlet valve to closed position.

2. Control mechanism for the uid pressure operating motor of a pressing machine, comprising inlet and exhaust valves having unison movement, means biasing said inlet valve to closed position and said exhaust valve to open position, means providing a chamber having an exhaust port, said exhaust valve being slidably mounted in said chamber and closing said exhaust port when in closed position, a piston in said chamber and slidable toward and from said exhaust valve, operator operated means for supplying iluid pressure to one face of said piston to cause said piston to move toward said exhaust valve and to thereby effect the closing of the exhaust valve and the opening of the inlet valve,

means for supplying fluid pressure to the operating motor when said inlet valve is open and said exhaust valve is closed, a conduit controlled by actuation of said operating motor for supplying fluid pressure to the other face of said piston, with consequent movement of the piston in a direction from the exhaust valve, and for simultaneously supplying fluid pressure to said exhaust valve for the maintenance of said exhaust valve in closed position and the inlet valve in open position, and operator operated means for effecting the movement of the exhaust valve to open position and the inlet valve to closed position.

3. Control mechanism for the fluid pressure operating motor of a pressing machine, comprising inlet and exhaust valves having unison movement, means biasing said inlet Valve to closed position and said exhaust valve to open position, means providing a chamber having an exhaust port, said exhaust valve being slidably mounted in said chamber and closing said exhaust port when in closed position, a piston in said chamber and slidable toward and from said exhaust valve, said exhaust Valve having a stem along which said piston slides, operator operated means for supplying uid pressure to one face of said piston to cause said piston to move toward said exhaust valve and to thereby eiect the closing of the exhaust valve and the opening of the inlet valve, means for supplying uid pressure torti-1e v4.onerating motor 'when said araiue .is fopen and :said exhaust vah/,e fis closed. ia ronduit controlled fby actuation A,of :said yloperating :motor for v.supplyilfig iuid pressure itc ,fthe @ther iace fof said, piston, with consequent :moye- :ment 'of the piston in ia .direction from the 4lexhaust valve, and for simultaneously supplying duid pressure to said Vexhaust lvalve-:for the maintenance :of :said :exhaust r.valve -iniiclosed :position fand .the inlet yalve in Iopen i osition. zand :operator operated :means "for :effecting the movement of `the exhaust Avalve to lopen position and the iinlet valve ito closed position. l

4. :Control mechanism for .the iiuid @pressure ioperating .motor 01 .la `pressing machine, comprising inlet and exhaust yalyes having 'imison movement, means i-:bi'asing said inlet waive tte closed position .and ,said exhaust valve Yto .fopen position, means ,providing a chamber having exhaust port, lsa'i'd exhaust fvalve slidably -mounted V:in `said chamber .and closing ,said exhaust -port :when in closed position, :a piston in said chamber aand .slidable itoward and from said exhaust -.valv.e, .said .piston vhaving an :axially fdisfposed cavity .and @said exhaust ivalve shaving ian axially disposed :stem extending finto :said 'fcayitm operator loper-ated ,means for `supplying :duid pressure to one face of said piston to cause said piston to move toward said exhaust valve and to thereby effect the closing of the exhaust valve and the opening of the inlet valve, means for supplying uid pressure to the operating motor when said inlet valve is open and said exhaust valve is closed, a conduit controlled by actuation of said operating motor for supplying uid pressure to the other face of said piston, with consequent movement of the piston in a direction i from the exhaust valve, and for simultaneously supplying uid pressure to said exhaust valve for the maintenance of said exhaust valve in closed position and the inlet valve in open position, and operator operated means for eiiecting the movement of the exhaust valve to open position and the inlet valve to closed position.

5. Control mechanism for the uid pressure operating motor of a pressing machine, comprising a casing having a passageway therethrough for the supply of fluid pressure to said operating motor for the operation thereof, a normally closed inlet valve in said passageway and biased toward closed position for controlling the flow of fluid pressure through said passageway to said operating motor, said casing also having a chamber therein and a duct for establishing communication between said chamber and the valve discharge side of said passageway, said chamber having a base wall through which said duct extends and also having an exhaust port extending through said base wall, a normally open exhaust valve slidably mounted in said chamber and movable to closed position against said base wall to thereby close said exhaust port and said duct, means extending through said duct to cause unison movement of said inlet valve and said exhaust valve, the inlet valve being closed When the exhaust valve is open and vice versa, a movable abutment in said chamber, said abutment being movable independently of said exhaust valve vand being eiective, upon the application of fluid pressure to the outer face thereof, to move said exhaust valve to closed position and the inlet valve to open position, operator operated means for supplying fluid pressure to the outer face of said abutment, means controlled by said operating motor for supplying Huid pressure to said exliau'st valve and tothe inner face of said movable abutment, to thereby maintain said exhaust valve closed and to move said movable abutment in a direction from said exhaust Valve, and operator operated means for moving said exhaust valve to open position, with consequent closing movement of said inlet valve.

6. Control mechanism for the fluid pressure operating motor of a pressing machine, comprising a casing having a passageway therethrough for the supply of fluid pressure to said operating motor for the operation thereof, a normally closed inlet valve in said passageway and biased toward closed position for controlling the flow of fluid pressure through said passageway to said operating motor, said casing also having a chamber therein and a duct for establishing communication between said chamber and the valve discharge side of said passageway', said chamber having a base wall through which said duct extends and also having an annular exhaust passageway surrounding said duct and extending through said base wall, a normally open exhaust valve slidably mounted in said chamber and movableto closed position against said base Wall to thereby close said exhaust passageway and said duct, means extending through said duct to cause -unison movement of said inlet valve and said ex haust valve. the inlet 'valve being closed when the exhaust valve is open and vice versa, a piston slidable in said chamber independently of said exhaust valve and effective, upon the application 'of iluid pressure to the outer face thereof, to

.operator operated means for moving said exhaust valve to open position, with consequent closing movement of said inlet valve.

Y EDMUND N. NECKEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Davis Apr. 18, 1944 Number 

